GRAPES

Importance and Uses Grape is most delicious and refreshing in taste. Excellent table fruit. Ripe grapes are easily digestible. It is a good source of mineral like Ca, P, Fe and Vitamin B1, and B2. Good source of sugars i.e. fructose, glucose and sucrose. TSS 12-18%, Brix-acid ratio in Perlette is 23-30 and in Thompson Seedless is 28-35. Grape juice, wine, jelly, syrups and raisins are prepared from grapes.

Species Vitis vinifera : Cultivation grapes Vitis labrusca : Fox grapes V. rupestris : Sand grapes V. aestivalis : Summer grapes V. riparia : Forest grapes V. berlendieri : Spanish grapes V. monticola : Sweet mountain grapes Beongs to family Vitaceae. Genus vitis has 2 subgenera Muscadinia and Euvitis

Area and Production In India occupy 0.06 million hectares with annual production of 1.10 million tonnes.

Productivity is 18 tonnes/ha. Grown commercially in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar

Pradesh and Kinnaur in HP. There are 3 types of grapes i.e. Tropical grapes, sub-tropical grapes and temperate grapes. In Punjab occupy 1248 hectares with annual production of 33696 mt. Productivity is 27

tonnes/ha. Grown commercially in Bathinda, Ferozepur, Mukatsar, Faridkot, Ludhiana, Mansa,

Sangrur and Patiala.

Origin and History Grape is native of Armenia – a district near Capsian sea in Russia. Grapes are amongst the lodest flora of the earth on the basis of discoveries in Western

Kazakhastan. In India, grapes are known since 11th century B.C. Grapes were taken to South by Mohamed Bin Tuglak in 1338. Its cultivation was common at the time of Susruta and Charakha (1356 B.C.) Akbar encouraged grape cultivation during 16th century. Grapes seems to have been introduced in Tamil Nadu in 1832 by a French Priest at

Melapatti village near Krishnagiri in Dharmpuri district. Abdul Banquer Khan introduced Anab-e-Shahi in 1890 which revolutionized the grape

cultivation in India. In Punjab, SB Lal Singh in 1928 introduced 116 varieties at Lyallpur. Rich collection of grape varieties was made at IARI in 1950.

S. Partap Singh Kairon imported Anab-e-Shahi and one lakh cuttings of Perlette from California in 1962 in Punjab.

Climate Temperature is the major factor which influence composition and quality of grapes. Do best under long, hot, dry and rainless summer with sufficient sunshine followed by

winter cold enough to produce dormancy in vines. Specific heat units are required for ripening of particular variety. Early varieties needs

1600 heat units and late varieties needs 3500 heat units. Dry weather is required at flowering, fruit development and ripening for quality grapes. Low temp. during winter helps in leaf fall to enter in dormancy. Late frost during spring cause damage to sprouting buds. Heavy and early rains are not good for late ripening variety which cause cracking of

berries and spoilage of crop. Moist weather favours fungal diseases.

Soil Grapevine has strong root system. Therefore most of the soil types are ideal for its

cultivation. Best soils for grapes are sandy loam, well drained and fairly fertile with good amount of

organic matter. Avoid heavy clay, very shallow and poorly drained soils. It tolerate to salinity and alkalinity better than other fruit crops. Avoid soil having high salt concentration. Upper limit of salt tolerance is 0.3%. Thompson Seedless is tolerant to salinity but Perlette is susceptible.

Recommended VarietiesPerlette Evolved at University of California by Dr HP Olmo during 1936. It is hybrid of Scolokertek Hiralynoje 26 x Sultanina Marble. Released in Punjab during 1964. Bunches are medium to large, conical, compact and attractive. Berries are whitish green. Ripens during 2nd and 3rd week of June. TSS 16-18%, acidity 0-5-0.7% and Juice recovery is 70%. Average yield is 35 tonnes/ha or 25 kg/vine. Good table variety. Wine can be prepared. Compactness and shot berries are the drawbacks.

Thompson Seedless Bunches medium to large, long conical to cylindrical well filled to compact. Berries yellowish green to golden yellow. Seedless variety. Ripens during 2nd and 3rd week of June. TSS 18-22%, acidity 0.5-0.6%, juice recovery in 70-75%. Multipurpose variety being table, wine and raisin making variety. Average yield is 25 kg/vine.

Flame Seedless Introduced from California. Bunches medium in size with small, bright red, crisp seedless berries. Ripens during 3rd week of June. Juice light yellow in colour. TSS 18%, acidity 0.7%. Excellent table variety. Average yield is 27 kg/vine.

Beauty Seedless Perform well under south-western districts of Punjab. Bunch is medium and well filled. Berry seedless, medium, bluish black. TSS 16-18%, keeping quality poor. Ripens in first week of June. Average yield is 25 kg per vine.

Propagation and RootstockPropagation Grape is best propagated by hard-wood cuttings. Cuttings are made from one year old shoots (canes). Cuttings should be taken from healthy and vigorous vines with well-matured canes. Cuttings are prepared at the time of pruning in January when the vines are dormant. Cuttings should be prepared immediately after pruning the vines. Length of cuttings varies from 20-25 cm and each cutting should have atleast 3 buds. General thickness of the cuttings should be 0.75-1.25 cm. Lower cut should be given immediately below the bud while the upper cut should be

given 3-4 cm above the bud in a horizontal manner to avoid injury to the top. Cuttings are buried for callusing. Cuttings are planted on well prepared soil in the nursery during February with a spacing

of 15 cms in rows that are 30 cms apart. Cuttings are planted vertically, keeping only 1/3 portion above the ground and remaining

2/3 portion burried in the soil. Cuttings are allowed to remain in the nursery buds for a year after which rooted cuttings

become fit for transplanting in the field.Rootstock In Europe, Australia and Russia, commercial grape cultivars are grown over rootstocks. In India, grapes are grown on their own roots as self rooted cuttings. Rootstocks have been found to impart resistance to soil borne fungi, nematodes, salinity,

drought and phylloxera.Important Rootstocks St. George : Resistant to phylloxera Dog Ridge : Resistant to nematode. Produce vigorous grafted vines.

Recommended for light sandy soils. Teleki 5 A : Hybrid between V. berlendieri x V. riparia.

Resistant to phylloxera and nematode. 1616 : Resistant to nematode, moderate resistant to phylloxera. 1613 : Resistant to nematode, moderate resistant to phylloxera

Salt Creek : Resistant to nematode. Grafting is very easy on this rootstock.

Flowering and Fruiting

Flowers in grape are borne in clusters. Flowers are perfect, pistillate and staminate. Bery set from pollination, fertilization and seed development. In seedless varieties, berry develop by parthenocarpy. Most of the grape varieties are self pollinated. Bonqui Abyad and Hur having pistallate flowers, require pollination. Flowers in grapes mostly develop in spring and fruit setting in April. Berry grew in 3 stages. First and third stage are fast and the second one is very slow (lag

phase). Lag phase is due to presence of higher level of growth regulators.

Planting Generally, grapevines are planted as per square system. Vines are generally trained on head system, Y-trellis and wire trellis.

Head system 2x1.5 m = 3300 vines/haKniffin system 3x3 m = 1100 vines/haY-trellis 3x3 m = 1100 vines/haBower system 3x3 m = 1100 vines/ha

Or 3x6 m = 550 vines/ha Planting of vines under North Indian conditions is done from mid-January to mid

February when the vines are still dormant and before start sprouting.

Orchard Cultural Practices

Irrigation management One irrigation : After pruning in the Ist fortnight of February. One irrigation : Ist week of March. At 10 days interval : After fruit set in April till Ist week of May At 7 days interval : Rest of May At 3-4 days interval : During June Only irrigation is given : July to October during dry spell. One irrigation : November to January if soil is extremely dry.

Manuring and FertilizationAge(Years)

FYM(Kg/tree)

Urea(g/ha)

Superphosphate(Kg/tree)

Muriate of Potash (g/tree)

1 20 400 1.5 2002 35 500 2.5 3503 50 600 3.5 5004 65 800 4.0 6505 and above 80 1000 4.5 800

FYM + Superphosphate+1/2 nitrogen+1/2 potash is given after pruning. Apply 1/2 nitrogen+1/2 potash in April.

Give 2 sprays of urea @ 1% first at full bloom and second at fruit set to get higher yield better fruit quality in Perlette.

Weed Control with Chemicals Spray diuron (Hexuron 80 WP) @ 2.40-2.80 kg/ha (a.i.) during first fortnight of March

after thorough cultivation to remove the established growing weeds at pre-emergence stage OR

Spray glyphosate (Glycel 41 SL) @ 1.64 l/ha (a.i.) OR Paraquat (Gramoxone 24 WSC) @ 1.0 l/ha (a.i.) as post-emergence herbicides when the weeds are growing actively and attained the height of 15-20 cm (2nd fortnight of March).

Dissolve the herbicides in 500 l water/ha so as to give thorough coverage to the weeds in the field.

Spray glyphosate and paraquat on calm day.

Training of Vines

Methods of Support Vines cannot be grown satisfactorily without some form of support to obtain a well

formed vine with a strong straight trunk quickly and economically.

Forms of support: Arbour (Bower) or Pergola, Stakes & Trellis.

i) Bower Expensive system of support but suitable for all grape varieties. Best suited in warmer climate where the vine grow vigorously. Provides good protection against hot desiccating winds. Bunches hang from the vines under the extensive vine spread and are saved from damage

by birds and sun scorch. Capable of giving high yield. Cost of establishment ranges between Rs. 1.5-2.0 lakh/ha. Height of bower is kept 2.1-2.5 m above ground level. It has criss cross network of wires i.e. 30-45 cm apart. Structure of wire is supported by pillars of concrete or stone or iron. For root, strong angle iron (6.4x6.4x0.64 cm section / or steel rope of 10 mm dia are used. Wires for net should be of 8-10 gauge. Each pillar is supported with a deadman fixed 100-150 cm deep in ground. Peripheral poles are kept inclined at 75o angle. End poles are stretched with ropes of 3 wires of 8 mm diameter.

ii) Trellis

Kniffin system Two or three wires are stretched horizontally (Kinffin system) at the height of 1.2, 0.9 &

0.6 m supported by single iron pole at 5 m distance. Erection cost is Rs. 60000-70000 per hac.

Telephone system Three wires horizontal trellis or overhead trellis is known as Telephone system. Poles are about 2 m high. All the wires run only in one direction. Air circulation between rows is better.

Suitable for Perlette.

Y-Trellis Y-shaped structure is build up by maintain 110o angle between the Y. The horizontal wires are stretched maintaining a distance of 9”-1’. This is an open canopy system allowing more sunlight and more aeration which leads to

less build up of humidity.

iii) Stakes System is suitable for kitchen gardening. Bomboo or wooden poles of about 2 m height are used. Poles are treated against white ants. Poles fixed at the time of planting the vines keeping 30 cm length in the ground.

Method of Trainingi) Bower system Two primary limbs (Cordon) are developed bidirectionally. Secondary cardons are developed on the main arms. Vine should cover overhead area of 9 Sqm at 3x3 m. Short or long fruiting spurs are allowed to develop on the secondary cardons only. In Perlette 100 fruiting spurs are retained. Average yield of 40 kg/vines is obtained.

ii) Kniffin system Main trunks extends horizontally on one side – unilateral horizontal cardon. Main trunk extends horizontally on two sides – Bilateral horizontal cardon. Perlette bearing on short spur is trained on this system. Six arms are trained 3 on left side or 3 on right side. Yield is half than the bower.

iii) Telephone system Two vigorous shoots across wire are selected as primary arms. On primary arms, 6 laterals one on each side along the wires are allowed to develop as

secondary arms.

iv) Y-Trellis Vines are trained to H system of training Vines are headed back at the height of 5’ from the ground. Two secondary arms are developed on which fruiting canes are maintained.

v) Head System Vines are headed back at 1 m after one year. 4 or 5 bunches are arranged in the form of goblet are selected. At the first pruning, laterals are pruned to spurs with 1-2 buds. These spurs will produce a number of shoots to provide arms for the framework. 15-20 fruiting spurs of 3-4 buds and equal number of renewal of 1-2 buds are retained.

Pruning Pruning comprises the removal of living canes, shoots, leaves and other vegetative parts

of the vines. In nature grapevines shows acropetal growth and if left as such its branches continue to

elongate climbing with the help of tendrils. Aim of pruning is to properly distribute the bearing wood over the vine and to regulate

the crop maintaining its vitality for consistent productivity.

Pruning Methods(a) Spur Pruning Retention of the basal buds after pruning as fruiting canes is called spur pruning. Perlette variety is spur pruned.

(b) Cane pruning It is practised by leaving more than 4 buds on a cane. Practised in varieties having the less buds on the canes which are usually sterile. Thompson Seedless variety is canned pruned.

(c) Mechanical pruning Cane pruning with less number of canes per vine of same length is being used for more

varieties. It permits positioning of the fruit for machine harvesting better than the other system.

Types of Pruning1) Dormant Pruning Pruning is done while the vine is dormant between leaf fall in autumn and the starting of

the buds in spring. In north India, pruning is done from mid January to first week of February when the vines

are in dormant condition. In tropical area, vine continues growth all the year round and does not undergo dormancy.

Pruning is, therefore, done twice a year, once in summer and again in winter. Amount of pruningVariety No. of canes to be left

per vineNo. of buds to be left per

canePerlette 60 - 80 4Beauty Seedless 60 - 80 4Thompson Seedless 40 - 50 8-10Anab-e-Shahi 80 - 100 5-6

2. Summer pruning It consists in removing buds, shoots or leaves while they are green. It is done while the vine is growing or active. Benefits of summer pruning are to correct the shape, to provide shading to the fruits and

opening the vine to light. In Punjab, summer pruning is substituted by 3 summer pinchings one in May and two in

August-September to increase fruit yield and quality.

Thinning of Fruits Removal of flower clusters before flowering or parts of such clusters after fruit set is

called thinning of fruits. Thinning improve berry size and quality. Fruits of thinned vines are less prone to day.

Methods of thinning1) Flower cluster thinning It is done between leafing out and blooming. Followed in cultivars which tends to set straggly clusters. Flowers after thinning develops more perfectly, fruit set will be more and there will be a

large percentage of normal berries e.g. cardinal.Flower thinning

It is done with the use of mechanical means like plastic brushes or removal of laterals by hand before the fruit set.

Practice followed in Perlette which tend to set heavily. In Perlette, clusters become over compact and are susceptible to berry rot at the time of

ripening and also high percentage of berries remain under-sized. GA 30 – 50 ppm, Sevin 1000-2000 ppm or ethephon 5-10 ppm and use of plastic brush at

the time of full bloom have found to be very effective in flower thinning.

ii) Cluster thinning It consists of removal of entire cluster after fruit-set. It is a grading and sorting of clusters at an early stage. Misshaped, small-sized and over-sized clusters are removed. Followed in cv. Emperor growing on heavy soils. Cluster thinning is easiest and best means of reducing crop on overload vines of high

productivity or raisin grape vineyards. Not more than 100 bunches to be left on each vine planted at 3x3 m. Thinning should be done soon after the berry set and all small and under develop clusters

should be removed.

iii) Berry thinning It consists of removing parts of clusters or individual berries after fruit-set. Rachis of cluster can be cut back to retained the derived number of berries. Thinning should be done soon after fruit set. Removal of individual berry is very time consuming & uneconomical. Practice prevent over compactness of clusters when berry size is increased either by

girdling or use of plant growth regulators.

Bud Differentiation The differentiation that results in the formation of fruit buds begins in the end of April

under Punjab conditions in Perlette. Differentiation of the buds starts in lower part of the shoot.

Girdling It consists in removing a narrow ring of bark entirely around some members of the vine

like arm or cane. Common width of ring should be 4-5 mm. Girdling of the trunk affects the whole vine. It is important that the ring be completely removed. Even if a small portion of the bark is

left, there will be no effect. Immediate effect of a complete girdle is to interrupt the supply of CHO’s and harmones

so that their level increase in the parts above the girdle. Width of the girdle should be such that the wound heal in a short time. Objective of the girdling is to improve fruit set, to increase berry size and to advance

maturation. Fruit set in Perlette can be improved by girdling the vines before blooming.

Barrenness Barrenness is a common problem in north-west Indian plains. Apparently healthy canes and arms when given cuts are observed to be dry or partially so. Vines do not bear flower bunches and if few bunches found their size is small. Excessive foliage create such ecological condition due to which some saprophytic fungi

turn parasitic leading to the death of tissues. Excessive foliage is due to over fertilization especially with nitrogen. Barrenness is common phenomenon in Anab-s-Shahi. Loss of floral primodia was found to be factor contributing barrenness. Loss of floral primodia occurred between February-March.

Quality Improvement in Grapes To get optimum yield and quality the following practices should be adopted. Thin flower buds one week before flowering by leaving 100-120 flower buds per panicle. When berry size is 4mm, girdle the vine by removing a 4 mm wide ring of back from the

main stem. There should be no injury to the wood and no piece of wood should remain attached with the wood.

Dip the clusters in 40 ppm GA3. One week after this, give second dipping in 40 ppm GA3. Field should have sufficient moisture during girdling and atleast 3 weeks after that. Harvest the crop when it attained the requisite TSS content.

Harvesting and Fruit Handling Grape is non-climacteric fruit and is harvested when fully ripe. When it attain characteristic colour, flavour and aroma, then it is said to be in ripe stage. Over ripening of grapes on vines should not be allowed which pose serious problems in

transit and storage & fetch low price in the market. Sugar-acid ratio is a reliable index for grape harvesting in medium acid content varieties

(0.75 – 0.95%). TSS is the best index for low acid content (0.40 – 0.75%) varieties. Acidity is the best index for high acid content ( < 0.95%) varieties. PH is an other index used for predicting maturity. Berries at the apical end of the bunch ripe faster while those at the distal end ripe slow. Taste is the most valuable indication of the ripeness of the bunch. For this, greenist

berries which are always near the tips should be tasted. If they are good to eat, the entire bunch is ripe for picking.

For local markets, fully ripe bunches should be picked while for distant markets still hard ripe bunches should be picked so that they do not spoil during transit.

Ripe bunches should be clipped with scissors. Harvesting should be done during the coolest period of the day. Undesirable berries viz. Unripe, over-ripe, small, misshapen, sunburnt, decayed, soft and

bruised should be trimmed. In Perlette, Ethephon @ 600 ppm at colour break stage advances fruit maturity by a week

and improve quality of berries by increasing TSS and lowering acidity. Vines comes into bearing after 2nd year of its planting. Productivity per ha is much higher in India than in many countries. Yield is 60 tonnes per ha in Anab-e-Shahi, 25-30 tonnes per ha in Perlette and 15-20

tonnes per ha in Thompson Seedless.

Packing Mulberry or bomboo baskets should be used for packing when sent to nearby markets,

whereas for distant markets wooden boxes or CFB cartons of 2-4 Kg capacity should be used.

Storage & Pre-Cooling Grapes should be stored at –2 to 0oC temp. and 85-90% R.H. for 40 days. Wrapping of grapes in perforated polythene bags check moisture loss and berry

shrivelling. Grape guard (So2 generators) can be placed in the package to enhance shelf life of grapes. Quick release grape guard is a craft paper coated with a thin layer of mixture of sodium

bisulphite and a plastic polymer. Slow release (dual release) grape guard is based on two ply plastic coated paper pasted

together leaving 12-16 unpasted rectangular pockets in rows of 3 or 4 is spread at equidistance on the entire surface. These empty pockets carry sodium bisulphite powder.

Grape guard paper is kept in perforated polythene bags having grapes with its coated surface upward while brown uncoated paper side must face the grapes and then the bags are placed in CFB cartons.

Quick release type give protection to grapes against decay for about 4-7 days during transit.

Slow release ensure protection for 40 days in cold storage.Pre-cooling Prompt removal of field heat of grapes after packing is the best means of maintaining the

initial quality of the fruit. Pre-cooling checks stem desiccation, browning, berry softening berry shatter.

Problems in Cultivation

Anthracnose or die back Caused by Elsinoe ampelina. Small light brown spots appear on young leaves which later turn dark brown and give

shot hole appearance. Early defoliation occurs in severe attack. Dark brown sunken spots develop on new shoots/canes/clusters and berries. Such conditions cause death of tips. For control, prune the shoots and canes during January-February and give one spray with

Bordeaux mixture 2:2:250 after pruning (125 l water/acre).

Give second spray with Bordeaux mixture in 4th week of March using 250 l water/acre. Spray Bavistin 500 g/acre in 500 l of water in 4th week of April. Spray Bordeaux mixture 2:2:250 in 4th week of May in 500 l of water/acre. Spray Bordeaux 500 g/acre in mid July in 500 l of water/acre. Spray Bordeaux mixture 2:2:250 in mid August in 500 l of water/acre. Spray Bavistin 500 g/acre in Ist week of September in 500 l of water/acre.

Powdery mildew Caused by Uncinula necator. White powdery growth deposits on leaves, branches and berries. Affected shoots turn

black. Blossom fall and berries fall off. For control, spray 0.25% Wetable Sulphur or Bayleton @ 200 g/500 litres of water or

Topas 200 ml/500 litres of water during mid March, last April & early May.

Water berry It is characterized by drying of berries usually at the tip of the clusters. Drying may also be scattered within cluster during May and June. Berries look like small cellophane bags, half filled with sap and remain hanging from the

cluster. Disorder is caused by over bearing, excessive application of nitrogenous fertilizers and

excessive irrigation or water stress. Apply judicious irrigation and nitrogenous fertilizers to overcome this problem.

Cercospora leaf spot Caused by Cercospora sp. Necrotic small area on leaves with straw coloured centre and reddish brown margin

develops. Control measures same as in Anthracnose.

Grapevine thrip Spray 500 ml malathion in 500 l of water before flowering.

Jassid Attack during rainy season on leaves. Spray 1.5 kg Sevin in 500 l of water.

Perlette